Rail mounted sling fitting

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a rail mounted sling fitting for threaded type slings. A loop body terminates with at least two clamp ends that, when tightened, grasp a rail installed on a weapon. The preferred tightening means is a bolt extending diametrically through the clamp ends. An alternative embodiment extends the lower jaw of each clamp until they almost make contact, which prevents the sling from interfacing with the rail itself.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sling fittings for rifles and moreparticularly relates to a sling fitting that mounts on an accessory railon a rifle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sling systems have been used to carry articles for an extended period oftime. As such, the prior art is filled with many sling designs forvarious articles. Of particular importance to this invention are slingsand sling systems designed to carry a firearm. Of these, most systemscan be divided into two types and the slings themselves may also bedivided into two types. The first systems are those systems thatpermanently attach a sling or sling mount to a weapon. The secondsystems are those systems that use a removable adapter for the purposeof providing a sling attachment. The first sling, a “point” sling,utilizes a clip on the sling itself to attach to a fitting of some otherloop on the weapon. A second, “threaded” sling-type utilizes a mountedfitting through which the sling webbing is threaded. As a rule, thepoint sling utilizes a smaller loop or other hollow shape for theattachment of the clip. Threaded sling fittings feature a significantlyoblong slot. Usually, these designs, while providing removable adapters,require a somewhat involved assembly process to add or remove theadapter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,330 (2003); U.S. Pat. No.5,074,069 (1991) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,872 (1986) are all illustrativeof the prior art.

While the aforementioned inventions accomplish their individualobjectives, they do not describe a rail-mounted fitting wherein thesling attachment orifice and the means for attaching the fitting to theweapon are both solely within the body of the fitting. As such, they donot disclose a type of sling fitting that can be simply made for boththreaded and point sling systems. In this respect, the sling fittingaccording to the present invention departs substantially from the usualdesigns in the prior art. In doing so, this invention provides a railmounted sling fitting, particularly for a threaded sling, but alsoadaptable as a point sling fitting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofsling adapters, this invention provides an improved rail mounted slingadapter. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to providea new and improved rail mounted sling adapter that can be positioned atany point on a rail and accommodate any specific type of sling.

In construction, the adapter of the present invention is basically ahalf-loop, having two ends that are made to mate with a rail system. Theloop is somewhat deformable and utilizes a bolt to draw the two endstogether, clamping the ends on the rail. An alternate embodimentfeatures two bars extending from the lower jaws of the mating ends. Ineither embodiment, a slot or hole is formed within the loop, allowingfor attachment. An additional attachment point may be added to the sideof the fitting opposite the bolt's insertion.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined inorder that the more detailed description that follows may be betterunderstood and in order that the present contribution to the art maybetter be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will bedescribed hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claimsthat follow.

Many objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangements of the componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the sling adapter.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation of the sling adapter.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of an alternate embodiment of the slingadapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of thesling fitting is herein described. With particular attention to FIG. 1,the fitting is essentially a main body 10 with two thicker ends 12doubled over the body 10, defining an oblong loop. Ends 12 terminate ingripping jaws 18 that interface with a weapon's rail. In the preferredembodiment, a bolt is accommodated with a provided bore 16, shown inpartial section in FIGS. 1 and 3 and end on in FIG. 2. Ends 12 beingdoubled over main body 10 define an oblong slot 14, through which asling strap is threaded. In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 3,lower jaws 18 b are extended beyond the length of upper jaws 18 a. Thisprovides a separation between the sling strap and the rail and stillallows upper jaws to slip around a rail.

In use, the fitting is slipped over a rail and positioned where a userdesires with the rail between jaws 18. A bolt is threadingly engagedinto bore 16 and is positioned so that it exits a first end 12 andenters the other end 12 within a groove that is present in the rail,thereby providing stability in a longitudinal direction. The bolt istightened and the fitting, being slightly deformable and resilient,grips the rail securely. Ideal materials for the fitting include metals,particularly aluminum, plastics, wood, fiberglass and other durable yetresilient materials.

Slot 14 may take any shape, though the oblong shape is necessary for athreaded sling. The slot 14 may be adapted to accommodate a point slingby thinning a portion of the fitting body to accommodate a clip. Anadditional point sling attachment may be added to the fitting on theside opposite the bolt's insertion bore 16.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be madeand still the result will come within the scope of the invention. Nolimitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein isintended or should be inferred.

1. A rail mounted sling fitting for a weapon, the fitting comprising: Afitting body; At least two clamp ends extending from and curling underthe fitting body such that a space is defined as an interior of thefitting body and ends; A tightening means for biasing the clamp endstowards one another.
 2. The fitting of claim 1, the tightening meansbeing at least one bolt inserted through a bore, threadingly engaged totwo ends across but not encroaching the space.
 3. The fitting of claim2, wherein a material from which the fitting is constructed is selectedfrom the group of materials consisting of: metal, plastic, wood,composite materials and fiberglass.
 4. The fitting of claim 1, furthercomprising at least two extended clamp jaws, each projecting from oneclamp end towards the other clamp end, but neither jaw touching theother.
 5. The fitting of claim 4, the tightening means being a bolt,threadingly engaged to two ends across but not encroaching the oblongspace.
 6. The fitting of claim 5, wherein a material from which thefitting is constructed is selected from the group of materialsconsisting of: metal, plastic, wood, composite materials and fiberglass.7. The fitting of claim 4, wherein a material from which the fitting isconstructed is selected from the group of materials consisting of:metal, plastic, wood, composite materials and fiberglass.
 8. The fittingof claim 1, wherein a material from which the fitting is constructed isselected from the group of materials consisting of: metal, plastic,wood, composite materials and fiberglass.
 9. The fitting of claim 2further comprising an offset clip hole positioned on the side oppositethe bore.